Five libraries receive 2008/2009 RRLC “Ad Council” grants

“We, the Advocacy Committee[of the Rochester City School District], a small group representing the Rochester City School District school library media specials, are seeking your assistance in leading our entire group of 60 secondary and elementary librarians in learning to become … strong advocates for our student’s learning through the development of advocacy leadership skills.”

This statement made by the Advocacy Committee, helped them secure a 2008/2009 RRLC “Ad Council Grant”. This year, RRLC will provide subsidies to libraries and or library systems to be used in support of programs offered by the Ad Council of Rochester.

The Ad Council of Rochester provides a variety of services that help non-profits increase their marketing and communications knowledge. RRLC has partnered with the Ad Council for several years, beginning with a 2005-2007 LSTA funded project that helped several groups of libraries create marketing plans.

Other recipients of the RRLC Ad Council Grant subsidies for 2008/09 are:

• Baker-Cederberg Museum and Archives -- $500 towards “Marketing & Communications Planning Support”.
• “We seek the Ad Council’s assistance … in order to raise the Rochester area’s awareness of the Archives and services we provide. …we have been a “hidden treasure” in Rochester’s cultural community…”
• Charlotte Whitney Allen Library, Memorial Art Gallery -- $500 towards “Marketing & Communications Planning Support”.
• “The Charlotte Whitney Allen Library and Teacher Resource Center is a little-known community treasure. …we would like Ad Council help in attracting new users and reminding Gallery members and visitors of our resources.”
• Mendon Public Library – up to $1,000 towards a Strategic Round Table or Marketing and Communications Support
• “The Mendon Public Library plans to be in a new facility by 2011. …we must have a clear communications plan to present to residents.”
• Monroe County Library System – $1,000 towards a Customer Touchpoint Workshop
• “MCLS appointed a Marketing Team in January 2007 to address marketing and public relations issues …[with the help of the Ad Council] we establish[ed] the first steps of a mutli-year marketing process that targets members and government funders. Our next step is identifying and addressing service touchpoints…”

If funding from the State permits, RRLC intends to continue this grant program in next year so that additional libraries can benefit from the servicMarketing Our Libraries

Seeking Excellence in Rochester Area Libraries

The Rochester Regional Library Council received a 2005 - 2007 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant to conduct a variety of activities related to marketing and branding of libraries and library services.

Seeking Excellence in Rochester Area Libraries provided funding for the following activities:

• The Brand Management Series, a series of 4 full-day workshops specifically designed for libraries by Brad Van Auken, internationally-known consultant from Brand Forward, Inc.
• A series of customer service training workshops
• Development of a marketing plan for hospital libraries
• Additional materials to assist hospital libraries with marketing efforts
• Definition of hospital library brand promise
• Development of a marketing plan for corporate libraries
• A series of strategic roundtables where libraries had the opportunity to meet with marketing professionals to discuss their marketing needs
• Development of a marketing plan for a public library system
• A communications audit for public libraries
• A brand development workshop for hospital libraries
• Development of a marketing plan for school library systems
• Development of a marketing plan for academic libraries

The materials created as part of this project are intended to be shared with other libraries, and every attempt has been made to develop customizable products that can be easily adapted by any library wishing to use them. Additional documents will be linked on this page as they become available.